New All Blacks 7s rep came here to heal his injured knee

The healing water of Natadradave is the reason why Vilimoni Koroi is able to make the New Zealand 7s team for the Wellington 7s team this weekend.

His dad Taniela told SUNsports yesterday that his son injured his knee while playing for the NZ Secondary School XVs in a warm-up clash with NZ Barbarians. This saw him withdrew from the NZ Under-20 side.

“He didn’t play in that tournament due to his knee injury, so we came back home and told him to fly over to Fiji to go to Natadradave,” Taniela said.

“I called up my daughter to take him there which they did and now he has been healed. He was there for only one week and now his knee looks like he hadn’t got any injury.

“We will be cheering our hearts out when he makes his first run at the Westpac Stadium 7s this weekend.”

Taniela said they are proud of his son’s success.

“His hard work and dedication has finally paid off.  It’s hard to describe the emotions that we had when he called us to tell us that he was joining the sevens team, I couldn’t contain myself as I was in tears because I know that he is a good player, a noble and wonderful boy who listens a lot and receiving that good news I can’t be more prouder of him.”

The 18-year-old was born and bred in Wanganui and is the fourth youngest of eight children.

He hails from Maloku, Moala in Lau, and has maternal links to Nukuloa in Gau but his father was born and bred in Naiseuseu in Beqa where his grandmother is from.

“This is something my wife and I will put all our support on because this is his dream and I am happy because he took heed of my advice which was to become something in the future.

“I told him the struggles that our family came through to be where we are right now, to always think about his future and be someone important in life and seeing him now I just can’t stop thanking God for his providence in my boy’s life,” Taniela added

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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